State

Romney to speak at Liberty U.'s commencement

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is set to deliver this year's commencement address at Liberty University, the evangelical Christian institution founded by the late televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr.

Romney, a Mormon, has never before visited the Lynchburg, Va., college.

The university announced news of the May 12 commencement address on Thursday.

Romney will deliver the address weeks after becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. He struggled during the primary fight to win over evangelical Christians who are a key part of the Republican base.

The speech will draw a huge crowd.

The university says more than 14,000 graduates and 34,000 guests will be on hand. It also plans to broadcast video of the speech to an estimated 70,000 Liberty online students around the world.